Margaret Ruth Sanders, Ph.D.

Margaret Ruth Sanders, Ph.D., age 75, of Centralia, Illinois, passed away at 11:40 P.M. on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.  She was born on July 17, 1945, in Centralia, Illinois, the daughter of Dr. O.M. and Ruth (Murphy) Sanders.  She married Warren Osborne in Centralia, Illinois, and they later divorced.

Margaret is survived by her sister, Maryann Langenfeld of Centralia, Illinois; cousins, Pat Dieken of Phoenix, Arizona, and her children, Katie Dieken, Eric Dieken, Bud Dieken and Alex Dieken, Barbara Murphy of Seattle, Washington, and Bill Murphy and wife Linda of Clayton, New York., and his children, Kelly Piatt, Jennifer Wilson and Ryan Murphy.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother; uncle, William Murphy; aunt, Ruth Murphy; cousin, Rick Murphy and cousin-in-law, Gene Dieken.

Margaret was a member of First United Methodist Church in Centralia, Illinois.  She valued education and life-long learning.  She was an avid Saint Louis Cardinals fan, and while living in St. Louis she attended many baseball games.  She enjoyed decorating and spending time with her family and friends.

Margaret graduated from Centralia Township High School and attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.  She graduated from University of Miami in 1967, with a B.A. in Speech and Drama, Western Kentucky University in 1970, with a M.A. in Education, Speech and English, Arthur Wise School of Real Estate in 1977, St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, the Doctoral Program in Psychology, Guidance and Administration and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1980, with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Educational Leadership.

Margaret was a Professor of Psychology at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois from 1971 to 1973, Dean of Women at William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, from 1973 to 1974, Dean of Students at International Fine Arts in Miami, Florida, from 1974 to 1975, Teaching Professor at Bauder Fashion College in Miami, Florida, from 1975 to 1977, and Teaching Professor and Consultant for the CETA Programs at Charron Williams College in Miami, Florida, from 1978 to1980.

Margaret sold real estate for over 20 years in the Miami area, where her focus was in residential and commercial properties.  Margaret’s philosophy was “Networking, marketing, creative advertising and putting the client’s needs first.”

Celebration of Life Services for Dr. Margaret Ruth Sanders will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, December 7, 2020, at Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home in Centralia, Illinois with Pastor Sidney Davis, Jr. officiating.  As a result of current national health circumstances, friends are invited to join with Dr. Sanders’ family via Live Stream at www.moranfuneralhome.net on her obituary page at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, December 7, 2020.  The family ask those who are attending to please be mindful of social distancing, wear a mask, and take any health precautions necessary to ensure a healthy environment.  There will be no public visitation. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park near Centralia, Illinois.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dr. Sanders’ honor to the First United Methodist Church in Centralia, Illinois, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation in Centralia, Illinois, Kaskaskia College Foundation in Centralia, Illinois or Charity of Donor’s Choice and will be received by the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home at 134 South Elm Street in Centralia, Illinois.  Please view the online obituary, send condolences or share memories with Dr. Sanders’ family at www.moranfuneralhome.net or on the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

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